LONDON Marathon winner and world record holder Kelvin Kiptum has died aged just 24.
The Kenyan long distance runner was killed alongside his coach Garvais Hakizimana in a car crash on Sunday.
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Kiptum won the London Marathon in April last year and broke the course record, crossing the line in two hours one minute and 25 seconds.
Then, just months later, he smashed the world marathon record in Chicago, completing the 26 mile race in just two hours and 35 seconds.
International track federation World Athletics had only ratified his records last week.
Kenya’s former prime minister Raila Odinga confirmed Kiptum had died on X, writing: “Devastating news as we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual, Kelvin Kiptum, World Record holder and Kenyan athletics icon.
“Together with his coach, they tragically passed on in an accident tonight.”
“My deepest condolences to his loved ones, friends, and the entire athletics fraternity.
“Our nation grieves the profound loss of a true hero.”
The crash happened on a road in Western Kenya – a high-altitude area commonly used as a training base for long-distance athletes.
London Marathon organisers said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear the terrible news of the death of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
“The thoughts of everyone at the TCS London Marathon are with Kelvin’s and Gervais’ family and friends.”
Local reports state that a second passenger, a lady identified as Sharon Kosgey, was in the car at the time of the crash.
She survived the impact but with serious injuries, and was rushed to Racecourse Hospital for medical attention.
The bodies of Kiptum and Hakiziman were taken to the hospital’s mortuary.
Elgeyo Marakwet Police Commander Petr Mulinge confirmed the accident took place at approximately 11pm (8pm GMT) on Sunday.
According to Mulinge, Kiptum had lost control of the vehicle, veering off the road and landing in a ditch about 60 metres away before colliding with a tree.
He added that Kiptum and Hakizimana “died on the spot”.
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Kiptum was currently training to run just under two hours at the Rotterdam Marathon on April 14.
He had also been selected by Kenya for this summer’s 2024 Olympics in Paris.
How Kelvin Kiptum went from borrowing shoes to winning London Marathon
Kelvin Kiptum was renowned for being the only person in history to run the marathon in under two hours and one minute in a record-eligible race.
But the Kenyan, 24, had to rise from the depths of poverty prior to his remarkable success.
When he lined up for his first major local competition in 2018, Kiptum did so wearing borrowed running shoes because he could not afford a pair of his own.
Kiptum began his career on the road, breaking away from the past tradition of athletes starting on the track before switching to longer distances.
But that wasn’t out of choice.
Kiptum claims he made the decision purely because of a lack of resources.
“I had no money to travel to track sessions,” he explained.
“My training place is far from a track, so I started training with road-running guys – and that’s how I got into marathon.”
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